The Board Member’s Annual Gift

The single most important responsibility a Board member has is to ensure the fiduciary viability of the organization they serve.

Looking at the data The Niles Partners has collected over the years, the largest cause of friction on a Board is the annual personal gift we suggest each board member make to the agency. This annual personal gift is over and above the purchase of gala tickets, money spent at the annual fundraising event, and the Board member’s contribution to any ongoing capital project. It is their annual gift!

The Niles Partners believe this gift is nonnegotiable for these reasons:

1. It establishes and sets the tone for all other employees and volunteers to make a gift.
2. The first question most funding resources ask the agency’s representative is, “what percentage of your board makes an annual personal contribution?”
3. It improves any decisions involving capital expenditures as each member now has a personal stake in the outcome.